european college of sport science

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
mated male soccer players (age 21  1 y, VO2 max 62.3  1.5 ml.min-1.kg-1) volunteered to participate in this
study. Acclimated (A) and unacclimated (UA) teams played separately against a high level competitive local team at the second half of
July 2007. Acclimated players played with an ambient temperature and humidity of 35.6  0.3 oC and 46  2 % respectively.
Temperature and humidity was recorded as 36.00.2 oC and 61  1 % during the UA match. Match activity was
recorded by a global positioning system. Thermosensor pills were used for body core temperature (Tc) measurements. Blood samples
taken 4 hours before and immediately after the game to determine hematocrit (Htc), hemoglobin content (Hb), calculate plasma volume
loss, and changes of serum electrolytes. Urine analyses performed before the game. ANOVA and paired sample t-test was used to
evaluate the level of significance, and p values < 0.05 were accepted as significant. . Results: The highest Tc value recorded during the
last ten minutes of the first half and the difference between A and UA groups was not significant (39.0 &#61617; 0.3 vs 39.51 &#61617;
0.3oC respectively). Urine specific gravity value of A players (1020&#61617;6) was significantly lower than UA players (1027&#61617;7) (p <
0.05). Pre- and post-match Htc (43.5 &#61617; 3.3 vs 46.1 &#61617; 2.5 %) and Hb values (153 &#61617; 11 vs 154 &#61617; 12 g/L) were
used to calculate % plasma volume change (-4.3&#61617;8.13 %) for the A players. The plasma volume loss for the UA players was
calculated as -4.8&#61617;2.8 % with pre- and post-mach Htc (45.8 &#61617; 2.6 vs 47.0 &#61617; 1.3) and Hb (161 &#61617; 7 vs 166
&#61617; 9; p